Apparatus for testing explosives



Aprifi 21, 1931. F. OLSEN ET AL- APPARATUS FOR TESTING EXPLOSIVES Filed Aug. 30, 1928 I gwvznlo'w' Fredrinh Ellsen Clarence LLEain W aflkyumug 7'0 RECORDER Patented Apr'. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDRIGH OLSEN AND CLARENCE J'. BAIN, DOVER, NEW JERSEY APPARATUS FOR TESTING EXPLOSIVES Application filed August 30, 1928. Serial No. 303,088.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 80, 1928 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without-the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an apparatus for testing ex losives.

The obJect of this invention is to provide an a paratus into which an explosive train may be quickly and conveniently loaded for m the purpose of testin its efficiency and effectiveness under di erent conditions and the rateiof detonation of an'explosive constituting an element of the train.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 25 wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved apparatus and Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view of the central portion of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

The apparatus consists of a series of adjustabl connected tubes, the bores of the end tu es 5 and 6 being of less diameter than the bore ofv the intermediate tube 7 and servin to confine between their ends elements 0 an explosive train which are disposed within the tube 7. The tube 5, which acts as a guide for a drop weight 8 is threaded internally to the intermediate tube While the tube 6, which contains a bursting charge 9, is attached to the intermediate tube by a coupling sleeve 10. The lower end of the tube 6 is closed by a cap 11.

The explosive train confined within the tube 7 consists of a block 12, mounting a firing pin 13, a carrier 14 in which is placed a detonator l5, and a casing 16 containing a booster charge 17. In the assembly of 5 these units there is shown an imperforate disk or disks 18 interposed between the detonator and the booster and a ring 19 placed between the booster and the bursting charge to establish an air gap 20. The disk and ring may be interchanged and their thickness varied in conducting comparative tests to determine the efficiency of the detonator and booster.

In order that the rate of transmission of the detonating wave may be ascertained, 0 spaced wires 21 are inserted through the charge and its tube and are in operative connection with a recording device (not shown) which will register the time of movement of the wires. a

, Tests on the bursting charge and its container and on the effectiveness of individual elements of the explosive train and its holders or of various combinations of particular elements may readily be conducted. '70

The apparatus is functioned by removing a pin 22 which allows the drop weight to strik2e the firing pin normally held by a shear pin We claim:

1. A testing apparatus including a container formed of adjustably connected tubes, the bores of the end tubes being smaller than the bore of an intermediate tube, a bursting charge chamber constituted by one end tube, an external coupling between said tube and the intermediate tube, spaced impulse transmitting members in the bursting chamber, members arranged to carry an explosive train confined between the end tubes, separating members positionable between the individual elements of the explosive train members and between an end explosive train member and bursting charge chamber and means in the other end tube for functioning the explosive train.

2. A testing ap aratus including a' container formed of a justably connected tubes, the bores of the end tubes being smaller than the bore of an intermediate tube, a bursting charge chamber constituted by one end tube, an external coupling between said tube and the intermediate tube, members ar ranged to carry an explosive train confined between the end tubes, separating members '3 positionable between the individual elements of the explosive train members and between an end explosive train member and burstin charge chamber and means in the other en tube for functioning the explosive train.

3. A testing apparatus including a container formed of adjustably connected tubes, the bores of the end tubes being smaller than the bore of an intermediate tube, a bursting charge chamber constituted by one end tube, an external coupling between said tube and the intermediate tube, members arranged to carry an explosive train confined between the end tubes and means in the other end tube for functioning the explosive train. 4. A testing apparatus including a con tainer formed of adjustably connected tubes, the bores of the end tubes being smaller than the bore of an intermediate tube, a bursting charge chamber constituted by one end tube, an explosive train carrier confined between the end tubes and means in the other end tube for functioning the explosive train. 5. A testing apparatus embodying spaced tubes, a hollow member connecting the tubes and a carrier arranged to contain an explosive to be tested wholly confined within the hollow member and between the tubes.

FREDRICH OLSEN. CLARENCE J. BAIN. 

